Thirty years ago, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) made a commitment to providing market research on its members that would assist health care marketers in targeting family physicians. Over the years, the type of data presented has changed slightly, but one thing remains constant -- the desire to provide insight into the behavior of family physicians.
This research represents the thirtieth consecutive survey conducted by the AAFP on member practice patterns and journal reading habits.
As one of the largest medical specialty organizations (more than 93,800 members), the AAFP is recognized as the nation's top advocate for family medicine.
Family physicians treat patients from the nursery to the nursing home:
Introduction
- regardless of age, sex or disease entity,
- in outpatient and hospital settings,
- with a wide range of surgical and diagnostic procedures,
- referring fewer patients than any other specialty.
Office visits to family physicians represent about 23 percent of all patient visits, although FPs represent only 9 percent of all physicians.1
FPs write 28 percent of all prescriptions issued during office visits, more than any other single specialty.1
Family medicine is recognized as a specialty that is essential to managed care. The broad scope of family practice helps reduce excessive costs and increases access to health care. Family physicians are the most frequently designated primary care providers, or "gatekeepers," for managed care organizations (MCOs).
Office-based FPs support an average of 7.8 managed care contracts.2
In response to the increasing importance of family physicians in the marketplace, savvy health care marketers are increasing promotions targeted to this key specialty. Accordingly, the AAFP has undertaken to provide critical information about its physician members to assist in targeting and reaching family physicians.
FPs write 28 percent of all prescriptions issued during office visits, more than any other single specialty.1
Family medicine is recognized as a specialty that is essential to managed care. The broad scope of family practice helps reduce excessive costs and increases access to health care. Family physicians are the most frequently designated primary care providers, or "gatekeepers," for managed care organizations (MCOs).
Office-based FPs support an average of 7.8 managed care contracts.2
In response to the increasing importance of family physicians in the marketplace, savvy health care marketers are increasing promotions targeted to this key specialty. Accordingly, the AAFP has undertaken to provide critical information about its physician members to assist in targeting and reaching family physicians.
- Facts About Family Medicine, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2007.
- Practice Management Profile, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2007.
